GO FOR 2

Photo Courtesy of Keith Allison (Flickr.com/keithallison - Creative Commons Licensed)

Steve Nash agreed to a two-year contract extension today which will keep him in a Phoenix Suns uniform for a total of $35 million dollars (over three years, including this coming year for which he was still under contract). I recently carved up Grant Hill for staying in Phoenix…so why do I think it’s a good move for Nash?

Part of the reason the situation seems different is because of how different the road to the NBA was for these two players. Nash went to UC Santa Clara, and led the Broncos to two great upsets in the NCAA tournament. Just being drafted in the first round (15th overall) and having his jersey retired at UC Santa Clara were huge accomplishments, beyond what anyone ever expected for the Canadian import. Grant Hill, on the other hand, was a heralded recruit who went Duke – going in the NBA draft was a given for Hill, the expectations for him were much higher.

Then there’s the careers that the two have had so far in the NBA. Hill spent more time injured than anybody this side of Greg Oden. He once had a stretch – his first two years in Orlando – where he only started 18 games…over two entire seasons. The rest of Hill’s career has been marred by injury and failing to meet expectations with flashes of brilliance. Meanwhile, Nash has been healthy, productive, and easily outlived expectations for a mid first round draft pick from a tiny school in California. Hill actually has one more NBA all-star appearance than Nash (7 to 6), of course Nash still has the potential to earn more all-stars…and its very unlikely that Hill does. Nash is also a two-time NBA MVP, an elite distinction that Hill never earned.

Hill was also never really the face of a franchise, although he’s probably most closely associated with the Orlando Magic, not the Suns or the Pistons. Nash has absolutely become the face of the Phoenix Suns since his re-arrival from Dallas (in Mark Cuban’s worst moment ever), and that skinny, short Canadian flying up and down the court in one of the best run-and-gun offenses ever assembled from 2004-2007 defines the modern Suns.

No, Nash doesn’t have a championship and neither does Hill. And no, Nash isn’t going to win a championship in Phoenix any more than Hill is. But Nash has a legitimate shot at the hall of fame, and should be remembered as the best pure point guard of our time (sorry, Jason Kidd). Nash is also the face of the franchise in Phoenix, and he’s adored by the fans there. Hill just sort of hangs out in Phoenix, fans like him, but they certainly don’t feel the connection to him that they do to Nash. With the absolute lack of parity in the league right now, and the fact that the 2010 free agency is looking like it will be a big letdown compared to what we though a year ago, Nash doesn’t have great odds of winning a championship even if he leaves.

Simply stated, it makes sense for Nash to end his career in a city that loves him, where his wildly unlikely NBA career got its start. I completely understand why Nash took the extension (quickly, which will help with the fans continuing to love him), its a smart move. Hill, on the other hand, has had a great career – but it will ultimately be defined by disappointment. It makes sense for Hill to do everything he can to try and add one more gem to the resume in my mind, especially since he could have left this year and had two very solid offers in hand. Oh well, at least they have each other.

Duke Men’s Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski is “likely” to return as the couch of the USA Men’s Olympic Basketball team, according to USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo. This will again raise the question of whether or not Coach K’s double duty is having a negative impact on the Blue Devils. The short answer: Yes.

Rivals.com columnist Jason King argues that the exposure that Coach K brings to Duke because he is the Olympic coach is a positive thing for the school, and more than makes up for the time he is gone. This is one of the most common arguments in favor of Coach K doing both jobs, and its completely wrong. First, look at the basis of that entire argument: it brings more attention to the school. Seriously? More attention…to the Duke Blue Devils? Its not like this is Davidson or George Mason we’re talking about, Duke is a 3 time national champion and 6 time runner up who plays in the ACC, college basketball’s premiere conference. The last thing Duke needs it attention, what they need are players. There isn’t a recruit out there who doesn’t know about Duke’s history, that Coach K is a well respected coach, and that the highest level of exposure and best competition is in the ACC.

The problem is that there are a slew of storied programs with great coaches in the ACC, Pac-10, and Big 12….and their coaches are on the recruiting trail spending time with these kids. There are a small handful of the super-hyped one-and-done stars out there, and all those kids wants is some exposure to get as high up the draft board as possible. That’s just a fraction of the recruits out there though, everyone else wants to work with a coach, be a part of a program, and have a chance to win a national championship. For those kids, they want to know there’s a coach there who cares about them and cares about the program. Coach K is a legend at Duke now, his job is safe unless he really messes up bad, and everyone knows it. So when recruits are talking to an assistant coach, because the head coach doesn’t have time to visit them, what does that say? It says that Coach K isn’t devoted to the program or to his players, and those players go to UNC, ‘Zona, UCLA, Kentucky, Memphis, and on and on.

Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com/rwr (Creative Commons Licensed)

The bottom line is that coaching two teams doesn’t affect Krzyzewski’s ability to coach at all, but it affects his ability to recruit. In college, recruiting is everything, because one or two good players can’t carry you (Even ‘Melo needed help in Syracuse from two other players who would be drafted, and he’s as good as anyone to play in college in the last decade). So its undeniable, Coach K’s stint with USA Basketball does affect Duke’s program. So what does it mean in the wrong run? Well Duke made the sweet sixteen last year (in a weak field) for the first time since 2006, and the boosters are still pouring their money into Cameron Indoor – so in the short term Coach K is safe. But if the recruits don’t improve, some ACC titles and wins against rival UNC don’t start appearing, and one or two more first round NCAA Tournament exits happen, then Coach K is going to have to make a choice – and it will be interesting to see what that is.